M A I L B A G

Tackle ragging menace firmly

I fully endorse the view in the editorial “Fatal ragging” (Oct 22) that “the authorities are equally responsible” for the continued menace. We need a rigorous, strict and vigilant machinery to prohibit, restrain and check students indulging in this nefarious activity.

Amit Kumar’s case is not an isolated one. Time and again innocent, brilliant and docile students have ended their lives because of their inability to come out of the trauma of this shameful practice, all in the name of introduction. Students who bravely come out of this trauma as winners carry on the legacy of ragging on their juniors.

The authorities should be firm with the culprits. Confidence building measures among newcomers by way of regular interaction with seniors will help. Anti-ragging committees comprising friendly, easily accessible and sympathetic faculty members and monitored by the head of the institution will help. These committees may undertake surprise checks of hostels, cafeteria, secluded corners in the campus to enable newcomers to breathe and study in peace.

ASHA NARANG, GND University, Amritsar

Quota in perpetuity

The very purpose of reservation has been defeated because it has been misused all these years by the creamy layer and the elite amongst the backward classes. We need to start the process of dereservation. But our opportunistic politicians will go to any extent to perpetuate the system for their vote bank politics. Not surprisingly, the states add new groups to reserved categories every month.

The Allahabad High Court has rightly stayed the selection of a reserved category candidate in the general category. In fact, to thwart the greed of politicians, we need to have a “reserved open category”.

UDITA AGRAWAL, New Delhi

II

The reservation system cannot be abolished in the country as politicians want to perpetuate it in their own interest. They have provided reservations to some categories to remain in power.

The electoral system is mainly responsible for caste-based reservation. If the government foots the entire bill for the elections and bars political parties and candidates from doing so, eligible candidates will come forward and get elected on merit and efficiency. Then, there will be no need for reservations.

N.M. HANSI, Ludhiana

Nepal’s real friend

Nepalese Chief of Army Staff Pyar Jung Thapa has said that “China is the Himalayan Kingdom’s ‘real friend’ which respected the country’s sovereignty and does not meddle in its internal affairs”. This amounts to making an indictment of India, indirectly though. How come, we so often manage to ruffle the feathers and attract the ire of our neighbours without reaping any corresponding benefit?

There is something profoundly amiss with the way our foreign policy is conducted. At times one may be justified in believing that India is coerced by some other influential powers into adopting a line of approach in international relations that runs counter to our own vital policy objectives and interests. Or, are we perceived by our neighbours as people of little consequence? Either way, it is not a happy scenario befitting the status of a prospective global player.

Wg-Cdr S.C. KAPOOR (retd), Noida (UP)

Sonia’s authority

The photograph of Dr Manmohan Singh and Mrs Sonia Gandhi where she is partly hidden behind him is truly symbolic of the state of affairs in the Congress (The Tribune, Oct 9). Sonia holds the strings and gets the credit for all the good work done by the Prime Minister. However, Dr Manmohan Singh takes the responsibility of fiascos like the dissolution of the Bihar Assembly recommended by Governor Buta Singh. Talk of having the best of both worlds!

An upright person like Dr Manmohan Singh must be given more real powers to control those who play dirty politics at the cost of the state exchequer.

MINI SAPRA, Ambala City

The core problem

The State Bank of India’s “The Core Banking Solution” has become the core banking problem. After its implementation, the customers’ account numbers have been peremptorily changed. As a result, they find it difficult to withdraw or deposit money in the SBI branches.

Moreover, the staff are untrained and seem unable to work on the computers. Long queues due to the slow and sluggish system are the order of the day. Australia has reportedly discarded this problematic solution. Why continue in India?

R.K. ARORA Amritsar